The 9th edition of the high-profile Indian Premier League completes a week today. The franchise-based multi-team tournament has already witnessed some high voltage action and lots of drama in this action-packed one week.
All the teams are trying to get their team combination right as they seek for a balanced playing XI. However, there have been some notable exclusions in the playing XIs of the franchises. Proven performers like Shakib Al Hasan or Sreenath Aravind have warmed the bench so far as their respective franchises have played others instead of them.
We tried to have a look at 5 such surprise exclusions who haven’t played in the IPL so far. There were other names like Rishi Dhawan, David Wiese, Irfan Pathan and Albie Morkel too in our contention, but we have picked the following five keeping in mind their recent performances as well as their IPL record.
Here they are:
1. Corey Anderson
The swashbuckling New Zealand all-rounder hasn’t yet found a place in the starting XI of the Mumbai Indians and West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard has been preferred over him. The talented Kiwi all-rounder recently played for New Zealand in the ICC T20 World Cup 2016 and he did a decent job with both bat and ball.
Anderson’s record for Mumbai Indians has also been impressive and he could only play 4 matches last year after an injury ruled him out of the tournament. His competition is with Kieron Pollard who has been a proven performer the franchise.
However, Pollard hasn’t played cricket for a while and he hasn’t yet looked convincing at the tournament. Anderson who can bowl too can be given a chance to show his mettle in the tournament.
2. Gurkeerat Mann Singh
The Kings XI Punjab all-rounder Gurkeerat Mann Singh hasn’t yet played in the IPL so far and that’s a surprise given the fact that he played for the national team recently in India’s tour down under.
Gurkeerat has been a consistent performer for Punjab in the Indian domestic circuit and he is someone who is a useful bowler too. The Kings Xi side has started the tournament on a disastrous note as it has lost both their games so far.
Someone like Gurkeerat can be included in the squad given his record in the Indian domestic cricket. His off-breaks can come in handy and also he can provide solidity to the Punjab batting line-up.
3. Sreenath Aravind
The left-arm Royal Challengers Bangalore seamer Sreenath Aravind has been a revelation for the franchise. He, in his first IPL, impressed one and all as he scalped 21 wickets and became RCB’s highest wicket taker in that season.
Last year too, Aravind bowled quite well as he picked up 8 wickets in the 5 games he played at a decent economy rate of 7.33. RCB in the absence of their premier fast bowler Mitchell Starc can definitely pick someone like Aravind who has done well for them.
However, his competition will be with Harshal Patel who has also done considerably well for the franchise. On tracks, which will offer pace and bounce, Aravind can be a potent option for the Bangalore-based team in the tournament.
4. Imran Tahir
The only bright spot for South Africa in their disastrous world cup campaign was the form of their wily leg-spinner Imran Tahir who bowled exceptionally well in the ICC T20 World Cup 2016. Tahir is a part of the Delhi Daredevils squad in the IPL but surprisingly he hasn’t played a game so far for the franchise in the ongoing IPL.
Tahir has a brilliant T20I record and his IPL record too is commendable. Last year, he picked up 15 wickets in 10 games for them and his recent form for the Proteas is excellent too. He picked up 6 wickets in the World Cup and didn’t give away too many runs.
On turning tracks, Tahir can form a lethal combination with fellow leggie Amit Sharma to bamboozle the opposition. Tahir’s exclusion is seriously a point to ponder over for the Delhi team management.
5. Kane Williamson
The New Zealand skipper is one of the best batters in the world right now and it is his exclusion from the Sunrisers’ playing XI which has surely raised quite a few eyebrows.
Williamson along with Kohli, Smith and Root are considered the best batsmen in the business at this point of time because of their exemplary performances across the formats. Kane is also a more than a useful part-time bowler who can provide the much-needed breakthroughs.
The Sunrisers have struggled so far in the tournament and someone of the caliber of Williamson should definitely be drafted into the squad to bolster its batting as well as its slow-bowling department. Williamson, a calm bloke, can be the medicine that the Sunrisers team management is looking for the revival of its fortunes.
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